I'm wondering what the story is for parking in the Boston area. In previous cities I've lived in, a motorcycle was supposed to take an entire spot where there was metered parking. That was frustrating trying to find a spot, and more so when I got tickets because I car pulled in closer to the meter I had paid.

There's free moto parking in a garage in harvard square (or was as of a year and a half ago). I rarely parked on the street, when I did I generally wedged the bike in wherever it fit and fed the nearest meter. Never got ticketed, but didn't do that a lot. I also fairly often stashed the bike on campus or on a side-walk. I was always careful that the bike wouldn't be in anyone's way and never got hassled. Had my own parking spot under my apartment building for over-night parking. For inter-city transportation a bicycle is faster and easier to park than a motorcycle. I pretty much only rode the moto when I would be leaving the city.

I rarely parked on the street, when I did I generally wedged the bike in wherever it fit and fed the nearest meter. Never got ticketed, but didn't do that a lot..

Don't do that. You will get ticketed in Boston. Unless you're in a motorcycle-only space, the bike has to be in its own parking space, parallel to the curb, and within 1 foot of the curb or else it will be ticketed. I've recieved tickets for parking in my own space and paying the meter, but having my back wheel against the curb and the front wheel out so the bike was 45 degress instead of parallel. Also been ticketed for wedging in between cars and for being too far from the curb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikePilot

I also fairly often stashed the bike on campus or on a side-walk. I was always careful that the bike wouldn't be in anyone's way and never got hassled.

If you do this, BE CONSIDERATE. And watch for private property.

Also, look for other motorcycles parked and park next to them. When I worked at Boston Unviersity, there were a couple of places on campus where 3 or 4 people would park motorcycles and not get hassled.

I found an announcement about the addition of some spaces in the Financial District, but the city didn't bother updating their map of motorcycle spots, so I took the google map mentioned above and edited it to add the new spaces.